Choosing a dedicated lawyer when you are scared
When you face criminal charges in North Carolina and worry about how they might affect your immigration status, fear can feel overwhelming.
Guirguis Law blog
Legal Insights From a Raleigh Law Firm You Can Trust
Straightforward answers to the immigration, family, and criminal law questions Wake, Durham, and Johnston County families ask us every week.
Read on for practical guidance, then reach out when you need an attorney in your corner.
Legal Guidance Across Immigration, Family, and Criminal Law
Our blog gives Triangle-area readers a plain-language look at the legal services we practice every day, from green card applications to child custody disputes to felony defense. Each post is written to help you understand your rights before a small issue becomes a costly problem, whether that means knowing what a compassionate release attorney can request or how equitable distribution actually works under North Carolina law.
As a multilingual, faith based law firm serving Raleigh and the surrounding counties, we write about the topics our clients raise most: adjustment of status timelines, DWI penalties, wrongful death claims, and the difference between a felony defense attorney and a post-conviction relief lawyer. Our immigration attorney and criminal defense attorney teams also cover the crossover cases we call crimmigration, where a criminal charge threatens someone's immigration status.
Whether you're researching a divorce lawyer, comparing an estate planning attorney to a trust attorney, or trying to understand what a U visa lawyer does for a crime victim, you'll find clear explanations here, written by the same attorneys who will answer the phone at (919) 832-0500.
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Legal insight from the attorneys who answer the phone
DWI and immigration: Why you need legal advice immediately
A Drunk Driving (DWI) charge in North Carolina is serious for anyone, but it can completely change your life if you are an immigrant.
A fresh start: The path to expungement in North Carolina
A past arrest or charge can follow a person for years. Employers, landlords and licensing boards often run background checks and a criminal record can block opportunity long after...
Traffic tickets that can quickly spiral into bigger legal trouble
You might see a traffic ticket as a minor setback. However, in North Carolina, some citations carry consequences that reach far beyond a simple fine.
Importance of good moral character in naturalization applications
Good moral character plays a key role when you apply for U.S. citizenship. When you file Form N-400, the form used to request naturalization, immigration officers may review your...
Mexican National Released From ICE Custody
One More Person Home Today
Know Your Rights When Confronted by ICE
1. You have the right to remain silent.
What to Do When You Witness an ICE Detention
1. Stay Calm and Assess the Scene
Can a divorce cost an immigrant spouse their green card?
Both marriage and engagement are common ways for foreign nationals to legally enter the United States.
What a North Carolina criminal conviction means for your future
A criminal conviction in North Carolina follows you long after the case ends. It reshapes your future in ways that reach into your career, your home, your education and even your...
How minor crimes can hurt your immigration status
If you live in North Carolina and get charged with a misdemeanor, you might think it’s just a small problem.
Understanding ICE holds and how to fight them
There are multiple federal organizations that play a role in immigration. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reviews requests for visas and green...
Common mistakes that can derail your immigration case
Navigating the U.S. immigration system can be a complex and lengthy process. Whether you are applying for a visa, green card or citizenship, it is important to understand that...
How can you apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?
TPS is a temporary benefit offered to nationals of specific countries experiencing ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions.
What is the role of an immigration lawyer in deportation defense?
Deportation proceedings can be complex and intimidating for immigrants facing removal from the United States.
When does an immigrant qualify for asylum?
There are many ways to legally enter and live in the United States. Some people qualify for immigration opportunities through work or family relationships.
Practice Alert: Parole-in-Place Federal Register Notice Not Published Yet
Previous reports suggested that a Federal Register notice related to the new parole-in-place (PIP) program for spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens might be published today.
What kinds of criminal charges can affect an immigrant’s status?
Criminal convictions can be a major setback for anyone in the United States of America. People convicted of crimes may have to spend time in jail.
Crimmigration: A complex intersection of law
“Crimmigration” is a term that refers to the intersection of criminal defense and immigration law.
Those hoping to change their lives may qualify for drug court
People often fall into destructive and inappropriate habits slowly. People don’t typically set out with the intention of having a life-controlling addiction.
3 ways people can defend against North Carolina DWI charges
Most traffic violations lead to a ticket or citation. Drivers often pay those tickets with little concern about the consequences of doing so.
Could a sudden job loss force an immigrant to leave the United States?
Work visas are one of the more accessible options for immigrants. Those with certain job skills and strong educational backgrounds may qualify for job opportunities in the United...
What does it take to become a citizen as an immigrant?
There are many different types of immigration in the United States. Many people simply want legal permission to live in the United States.
Is eyewitness testimony reliable and accurate?
Eyewitness testimony can be influential in legal proceedings – in that juries tend to take it rather seriously – but its reliability can vary.
I Received A Subpoena — Do I Have To Go To Court?
Did you receive a subpoena from the Wake County or Durham County Assistant District Attorney to appear in court as a witness in a case? Legally, you must attend.
Is Marijuana Legal In North Carolina?
Although Colorado and a handful of other states have legalized marijuana for recreational use and medical use, weed is still not legal federally or in North Carolina.
The Value In Keeping Your Car Clean
Picture this: you’re pulled over for speeding, or some other minor traffic mishap, and the officer looks in your window to speak with you.
Think Twice Before You Use A Self-Checkout
Over the past decade self-checkouts at big box stores and grocery stores have gained popularity, eliminating the need for staffing as many cashiers and making it easier for those...
Wake County Drinking Ticket
Concert season has started again in Raleigh, and ALE agents will be out in full force at Coastal Credit Union/Walnut Creek Amphitheater.
What Is “Ghost Dope” And Why It Matters
The idea that someone can face a longer sentence because of another person’s lies is a very scary thought.
What Time Does Traffic Court Start In Wake County?
Did you receive a citation and have to be present in Courtroom 101 in the Wake County Justice Center?
Coronavirus And The ‘Public Charge’ Bar
Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Pandemia De Coronavirus (Covid-19) Y Encarcelamiento: Liberación De Seguridad Y/O Bono Durante La Pandemia De Coronavirus
Juan 16:22 “Así que ahora también tienes dolor, pero te veré nuevo, y tus corazones se alegraran, y nadie te quitara tu alegría.”
Coronavirus Pandemic (Covid-19) & Incarceration: Securing Release And/Or Bond During The Coronavirus Pandemic
John 16:22 “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”
Questions from a blog post?
Talk to a Guirguis Law Attorney About Your Situation
Reading about the law is a good first step, but every case has details a blog post can't cover. If something you read here sounds like your situation, whether it involves immigration status, a family law matter, or a criminal charge, our team is ready to walk through it with you in English, Spanish, or Arabic.
